City Council- January 20, 2025 Agenda & Minutes

Posted: January 16, 2025 | Updated: February 25, 2025

AGENDA

 

NOTICE AND CALL OF PUBLIC MEETING

GOVERNMENTAL BODY:                         THE CITY COUNCIL OF CRESCO, IOWA

DATE OF MEETING:                                   JANUARY 20, 2025

TIME AND PLACE OF MEETING:             5:30 P.M. CITY HALL, 130 N PARK PLACE

 

PUBLIC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN THAT THE ABOVE MENTIONED

GOVERNMENTAL BODY WILL MEET AT THE DATE, TIME AND PLACE SET OUT ABOVE.  THE TENTATIVE AGENDA FOR SAID MEETING IS AS FOLLOWS:

 

ROLL CALL:  CARMAN, BOUSKA, FOSAAEN, McCONNELL, KRIENER

 

ACT ON THE CONSENT AGENDA: All items listed under the consent agenda will be enacted by one motion. There will be no separate discussion of these items unless a request is made prior to the time council votes on the motion.

  1. Approval of the Agenda
  2. Approval of the Claims
  3. Minutes from January 6, 2025
  4. Minutes from January 8, 2025 Budget Worksession
  1. Approval of Tree Surgeon License for Tree Doctor Services, LLC

 

STAFF REPORTS: There may be action taken on each of the items listed below.

  1. Public Works
  2. Police
  3. Administration
  4. Committee Updates

 

COMMENTS FROM AUDIENCE: (This portion of the agenda is for comments that are not related to one of the items listed on the agenda.  Comments can only be received. No formal action by the Council can be taken.    Those making public comments will be asked to state their name and address, and to speak from the podium.)

 

BUSINESS:  There may be action taken on each of the items listed below.

  1. Motion to Appoint Gayle Kelm to the Theatre Commission for a Term of Three Years Expiring 6/30/2026
  2. Discuss Accounting Software
  3. Resolution Authorizing the Mayor and City Clerk to Enter into a Software Agreement
  4. Discuss Traffic Control Devices
  5. Possible Resolution Authorizing the Mayor to Sign a Traffic Control Device Application with the Iowa Department of Transportation
  6. Resolution Authorizing the Mayor and City Council Representatives to Sign an Agreement in Accordance with the Terms Agreed to in Negotiations Between the City of Cresco and Local 1068 American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees AFL-CIO
  7. Resolution Approving Wage Agreement for Full-Time Nonunion Employees
  8. Resolution Approving Wage Increase for Specified Permanent Part-Time Employees
  9. Motion to Amend the Employee Handbook to Remove the Cross Certification Requirements for Water and Wastewater Certifications
  10. Resolution Extending the Deadline for Water and Wastewater Certifications

 

ADJOURN:

THIS NOTICE IS GIVEN AT THE DIRECTION OF THE MAYOR PURSUANT TO CHAPTER 21, CODE OF IOWA AND THE LOCAL RULES OF SAID GOVERNMENTAL BODY.  POSTED JANUARY 16, 2025.

MINUTES

Mayor Fortune called the Cresco City Council meeting to order on January 20, 2025 at 5:30 pm. Council Members Carman, Bouska, Fosaaen, McConnell, and Kriener were present. No council members were absent.

Bouska made the motion to approve the consent agenda which included approval of the: agenda; claims; minutes from the January 6, 2025 meeting; minutes from the January 8th worksession; Tree Surgeon License for Tree Doctor Services, LLC. Carman seconded and it passed all ayes.

Public Works Director Brenno reported: (a) ISEP provided a safety training on January 2nd. They do various trainings in the year; (b) Water department had a water main leak by Spahn and Rose. They are also busy installing new cellular meters; (c) Street department is doing winter maintenance on equipment; (d) there was a private sewer line that was frozen due to the cold weather.

Police Chief Ruroden reported that the new Durango is being worked on by Alum-line and should be finished in the next week.

City Clerk Hill reported: (a) will not be able to accept the 7th Street West project until spring due to some unfinished work; (b) working with Jeff Korsmo to update the REAP plan. When it is updated, we can apply for grants for outdoor programs and spaces; (c) Allpaid is raising the rates for credit cards. The minimum processing fee will be $3.95 which is passed onto the customer. This will impact transactions at the Fitness Center, Library, and City Hall; (d) next budget worksession is January 28th.

Fosaaen reported on the Theatre Commission meeting. They are busy with fundraising ideas for the Scene Shop. Fortune said he explained to the Commission that the Theatre Levy was going away and suggested they look for options to increase revenue.

Mayor Fortune asked for comments from the audience and there were none.

Fosaaen made a motion to approve the recommendation of the Theatre Commission to appoint Gayle Kelm to a term expiring June 30, 2026. Carman seconded and it passed all ayes.

Hill explained that the current accounting software (gWorks) will be requiring us to upgrade to their cloud-based version by the end of 2025. With the change, there will be a higher annual cost and include additional fees for auto-pay customers; which the City currently absorbs. City Hall staff researched other companies that provide fund accounting software, and did demonstrations with Civic Systems, gWorks, Tyler Technologies, and Edmonds GovTech. Changing companies will provide software with new capabilities that improve staff efficiency. The annual prices after conversion are gWorks $35,000; Tyler Technologies $36,522; Civic Systems $17,400. A quote from Edmonds had not been received by the time of the meeting.

McConnell made the motion to approve the resolution authorizing the Mayor and City Clerk to enter into a Software Agreement with Civic Systems, LLC.  Kriener seconded and it passed all ayes.

Brenno reported that the Iowa Department of Transportation will provide two speed feedback signs. They will purchase and install the signs and the City will need to accept ownership. The recommendation of the DOT is to place the signs at the 45 mph change, which is outside of city limits. Ruroden would like them placed at the 35 mph zone. Council would like more information on the warranty, estimated maintenance costs, and alternative locations prior to applying for the signs.

Bouska made the motion to approve a resolution authorizing the Mayor and City Council representatives to sign an agreement in accordance with the terms agreed to in negotiations between the City of Cresco and Local 1068 American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees AFL-CIO. Carman seconded and it passed all ayes

Bouska made the motion to approve the resolution approving wage increases for full-time, nonunion employees. McConnell seconded and it passed all ayes.

McConnell made the motion to approve the resolution approving wage increases for specified permanent part-time employees. Kriener seconded and it passed all ayes.

Kriener made a motion to amend the employee handbook to remove the cross-certification requirements for water and wastewater employees. Bouska seconded and it passed all ayes.

Kriener made a motion to approve a resolution extending the deadline for employees to obtain Water and Wastewater Certifications until June 30, 2027. Bouska seconded and it passed all ayes.

Carman moved to adjourn the Council Meeting at 5:58 pm. Kriener seconded, and it passed all ayes. The next regular Cresco City Council meeting will be February 3, 2025, at 5:30 pm at Cresco City Hall.

 

Mayor Alexander Fortune
City Clerk Nicole Hill

 

Documents

2025 City Council Agendas, Minutes